Rifle · Proprietary · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardizedObsolete
.50-90 Sharps
Heavy .50 caliber black powder cartridge for the Sharps single-shot; used extensively by professional buffalo hunters and is associated with the Battle of Adobe Walls in 1874..
- Caliber
- 0.515″ · 13.08 mm
- Introduced
- 1872
- Case
- Rimmed
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Discontinued
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1872
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Sharps Rifle Company
- Manufacturer
- Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
- Standard
- Proprietary · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardized
- SAAMI
- Not SAAMI standardized
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Status
- Discontinued
- Availability
- Rare
- Case capacity
- 108.2 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:20
- Primer
- Berdan Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 22,000 CUP, SAAMI crusher
- Eff. range
- 300 yd
- Max range
- 3800 yd
- Recoil
- 48.1–61.4 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .50-90 Sharps, so this is the shape gravity alone gives the advertised velocity. Drag would steepen it. The tool below solves real loads through their published G1 or G7 model.
Open in Ballistic Compare- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 13.08 | 0.515 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 13.49 | 0.531 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 14.43 | 0.568 | ~ |
| Rim ⌀ | 16.76 | 0.660 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.80 | 0.071 | ~ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 63.63 | 2.505 | · |
| Overall length | 81.28 | 3.200 | · |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .50-90 Sharps is highlighted below.
Suitable powders
1 reloading powder listed for .50-90 Sharps, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .50-90 Sharps
Lineage
Connected reference
History
The .50-90 Sharps was the go-to cartridge for professional buffalo hunters in the early 1870s. Its most famous use was at the Battle of Adobe Walls in June 1874, where buffalo hunter Billy Dixon reportedly dropped a Comanche warrior at 1,538 yards with a Sharps .50-90 — a shot still celebrated in shooting folklore.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .50-90 Sharps use?
- .50-90 Sharps typically uses a 1:20 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .50-90 Sharps?
- .50-90 Sharps uses a 0.515″ (13.08 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .50-90 Sharps still in production?
- .50-90 Sharps is discontinued; typical availability is rare.
- What is .50-90 Sharps used for?
- .50-90 Sharps is primarily used for hunting.
- What are the best powders for .50-90 Sharps?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .50-90 Sharps include 5744.
Sources & provenance
- Standard C.I.P. — CIP TDCC datasheet — 50-90 Sharps 2"1/2 (Tab. II, rimmed) · bullet ⌀ archived
- Manufacturer Buffalo Arms — 50-90 (50 2 1/2") Sharps Black Powder Ammo, 540 gr .510 in · bullet ⌀, grain weights archived
- Reference DBI Books — Cartridges of the World, 8th ed. (1997) — Frank C. Barnes, p.140 · velocity, year, grain weights
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
